ASUS N56VZ Review, not your ordinary multimedia laptop

The N-series laptop of ASUS is geared towards those looking for a superb entertainment experience on a mobile PC. The 15.6-inch ASUS N56VZ belongs to the latest line of notebooks having Intel’s 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processor to go with its premium multimedia features.

I’ve spent a few weeks with this laptop and it was a blast playing with it. Before, I walk you through its awesome features; let’s talk about the awesome design that went into this laptop. Yes, “œawesome” seems to be the apt word.

Design

The lid on the ASUS has a dull black semi-matte finish for a not-so-common look. It’s not really glossy but not matte either since it reflects light and attracts a few smudges but hides them with the hairline-textured finish. Dead center is the ASUS logo which lights up when in use, a copied-touch but looked nice nonetheless.

Opening the lid will reveal a Macbook-like design but with a twist. It has the backlit chiclet keyboard on a spacious anodized aluminum body but what made this unique are the tiny holes in a concentric pattern overlapping the upper area of the keyboard. These are actually speaker holes which are cleverly integrated in the design of this laptop. Color me impressed.

The ASUS N56VZ has a full complement of connectivity ports. You’ll get 4 USB 3.0 ports (two on each side), a Blu-ray disc drive, VGA, HDMI and a LAN port. The multi-card reader is conspicuously situated on the front end of this notebook. Update: The one that will be available here will only have a DVDRW drive to bring down the cost which we don’t have a problem at all.

Keyboard

Keyboard layout seems standard for 15-inch notebooks these days with a number pad on the right with the arrow keys positioned in between letters and numbers. A layout I particularly dislike since it’s easy to mis-click the arrow keys. There are dedicated Page Up, Page Dn, Home, and End keys on the upper right which you’ll find useful. What’s missing are dedicated multimedia keys which I would want on my multimedia laptop. Not even dedicated volume controls are present.

Keys are rubbery with a soft tactile feedback and don’t make any noise. If you’re fond of those soft, rubbery and silent keys then you’ll enjoy typing here. Typing experience is just average, can’t say anything extraordinary about the experience as I type this review.

There’s also a generous-sized touchpad which is responsive to touch including multi-touch gestures like two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom. The click buttons are embedded on the touchpad itself but doesn’t feel stiff to press; I just prefer raised click buttons which I can easily press with the side of my thumb.

A thing of note – since the size of the touchpad is large, it’s easy to activate it with your palm while typing so better use a mouse and just disable the touchpad whenever you can.

There’s this lonely button on the upper-left portion just above the keyboard which serves as a quick-launch button. You can completely customize its function from launching an app to changing a setting on your notebook.

Display

Firing up the laptop, the Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution on its 15.6-inch screen blew me away. The matte screen also prevents glare to make viewing enjoyable even under bright conditions.

I quickly copied a 1080p video of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and was amazed by the clarity and sharpness of the scenes from this laptop. Details are crisp and 150ï¾Ÿviewing angle is wide for a bunch of friends to watch movies with you without crowding your space. It was also my first time to play Diablo III on a Full HD resolution (on a small 15.6-inch screen at that) and I appreciate the sharp details that the ASUS N56VZ gave me.

On top of the display is a high-def 2.0 megapixel webcam which can also use to capture 720p stills and 640 x 480 video using the bundled ASUS LifeFrame software.

Performance

Here’s the deal, the unit we received is their top of the line model having Intel Ivy Bridge 3rd Gen Core i7 processor with 6GB RAM. However, the ASUS N56VZ which will be available in the country will only get a 4GB RAM configuration running on Windows 8 so adjust the memory score on this Windows Experience Index accordingly:

This notebook is also powered by a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT650M graphics card with 2GB of RAM. The discrete graphics is slightly similar to the NVIDIA GTX660M of our previously reviewed gaming notebook, the Gigabyte P2542, but with a 100MHz slower clock speed. Nevertheless, it performs smoothly on Diablo III running on medium/high settings. Batman: Arkham City on the other hand is only playable in low settings when running on full HD.

Perhaps the most notable feature you will get out of this notebook is its sound thanks to the ASUS SonicMaster Premium technology which they co-developed with Bang & Olufsen. The ASUS N56VZ is simply made for those who are particular with the sound coming out from their devices.

First time I’ve heard of ASUS SonicMaster-quality sound output is from the ASUS Zenbook but you will truly appreciate its brilliance from bigger chambers such as in the N56VZ. Audio coming from this notebook has a wider range compared to your conventional speakers to go with the rich, crisp and clear quality. It’s like you’re listening from a premium set of speakers from your laptop and not just those mini-speakers.

The N56VZ also comes with a small SonicMaster subwoofer that you plug on to the 3.5mm port on the side of the notebook. The result is just a slight boost on the oomph of our music but is still a nice addition accessory nonetheless.

Battery life

Using the ASUS N56VZ strictly for gaming lasted me for almost an hour before it started warning me to plug to a power source. For usual tasks like surfing, watching YouTube, writing this review while listening to MP3s, you can get a little over 4 hours out of its 6-cell 5200 mAh battery. Not impressive but notebooks at this size are generally not known for their battery performance

Verdict

The ASUS N56VZ belongs to those types of notebook that can very well be your primary desktop. It’s not necessarily a gamer’s rig but should be serviceable for most high-end titles if you’re not gunning for max settings.

What we love about it is its design which admittedly reminds us of the MacBook when you open the lid but with a personal ASUS touch to give it some more style. We also love the crisp Full HD display and its wide viewing angle and most especially, the superb audio quality. What we particularly don’t care much about are the bundled junkwares ASUS puts into their notebook. Feel free to remove those you don’t need if you’re like me who’s OC about the things other people install on my machine.

Finally, what makes this laptop really attractive is its SRP which is pegged at just Php49,995 when it becomes available this October after Windows 8 becomes available in mid-December. Yes, it will come preloaded with Windows 8 according to our local ASUS contact.

Attractive design, outstanding matte display, and excellent audio to go with really good specs, and a price that’s easy to look at, we’re giving the ASUS N56VZ our Editor’s Pick Award and should be a popular choice for notebook-hunters this coming holiday season.

that was the original plan… the core i5 version already. actually this review has been sitting with me for a few weeks before i released it pending the official specs that will be available in the market. good thing they decided to go with core i7 but with a later release date.

Leo

Wow you’ve made my day! what a great news! So hooray for i7!

Thanks so much for the great information, Calvin!

So they plan to release this after the launch of Windows 8, so probably the release date for Asus n56 is around November?

Leo

Just searched this, saw a vietnam reseller with the updated or latest i7-3630 asus n56vz.

Is there a chance, this upcoming asus n56vz with W8, will have also the latest processor?

Asus is taking its sweet time! Not everbody wants a touchscreen Win 8 laptop off the bat– not for the kind of stuff I need this unit for. (Will leave that for a desktop’s walll-mounted monitor, I th7nk.) Strength in numbers? If ever you organize a group buy for ASUS N56VZ before 1 December 2012, count me in.

Clearly, Asus doesn’t care very much that we’re on standby for their promised advisory. Would’ve been better PR if they hadn’t commented here. How much effort does it take to say, “Not coming in– sorry” or “January 2013, maybe”?? Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by Sony & Toshiba responsiveness all these years.
Already looking at Lenovo Y580 or Toshiba with the optional international warranty. Too bad there’s no comparable Vaio model.

cha

i think i’m, gonna go for lenovo y580…Asus just sucks BIG time here..they know a lot of people are already waiting for n56vz to be released & i think we have waited long enough

Louisse Anne

You’re right @cha. Im beginning to think of an alternative and thats lenovo y580 too. So sad. =\

Bogus

I agree. Y480 was originally my first choice but after this review, I knew Asus will be better for me given the brand reputation…

but now, after uncertainties from Asus, after so much waiting, its getting tiring already.
u
Plus, Y580 is already available and with better gtx card 660m, not bad actually!

So what do you think Asus…

You choose to stay quiet and indifferent, while slowly but surely, your loyal customers are now looking at your competitors product?

Start the new week right by telling us which is which, say yes or no if its available. Have the courtesy naman guys!

Please!

Felix

Totally agree. Lenovo y580 was my alternative to Asus n56vz. If Asus won’t release any information about this product. I might consider buying the y580.

aldy

its stupid to think pinoys can’t afford their high end product or their market research is poor, so what will it be? macbook pro 15 inches, g55vz, u500…@cha @Louisse Anne @Bogus, seem it’s another waiting period, came across this model from ahem, achoose, same specs as the n56vz but with ssd, zenbook i think, 15 inch screen…

Bogus

@aldy

yes I totally agree, it’s a very excuse if they’re telling us, they’re tentative because its such a high end product.

You know what, its bulls**t, why? They are currently selling the much more highend and more expensive ROG Asus G55 which sells P60+.

Now hows that for an excuse?

Common Asus, you’re such a reputable brand, a highly respectable one, inface our IT would always recommend you Asus if I look for computer staffs.

Being at the top in the market, a reputable brand, please act like one. The way you’re treating us is like your very much new in the business.

You have lots of competitors out there who are now more aggressive, before it was HP or acer, then Samsung, now its lenovo. I think you should be aware of that, Im sure you do.

We’re not mad, but fustrated at how you’re treating us customers or potential buyers.

Whats really keeping you delayed?
Or you’re not really serious selling this model?

Tell us straight, pls!

barbara

Asus must make really good stuff if some prospective customers are turning the other cheek. Its too bad that they have iffy local reps then. My own kid wanted a Zenbook for grad school, but I’ve decided to get her a Mac Air. After-sales service & good customer relations are important issues and can cause worse trouble than mere frustration.

I’ve been using computers for too long, I guess. Good luck with Asus.

Darwin

There is no use waiting for this very beautiful product, I’ve tried to get a Zenbook Prime yet fail to see one as an actual unit. I ended up buying a Macbook Air with no regrets, I don’t care if they are better in specs if there are no stocks.

I was so stupid to be mislead by ASUS of their newspaper ad for their Zenbook Prime, but only ended me up in frustration finding the unit.

Plus I hear the same issue with their Transformer Infinity, they arrived late and overpriced. So in end point, don’t get your hopes up with ASUS. I’m sure it will be outdated by the time it arrives here.

Louisse

Don’t be frustrated anymore. It’s more worth the wait with its better specs. We just have to believe with the date they said. 😀

Hi Everyone,
Apologies for the late reply, the ASUS N56VZâ€™s latest availability will be Mid of December 2012.
As an added bonus for this anticipated model, we decided to upgrade the DVD-ROM drive into a Blue-Ray Disc Drive. For the same price of SRP Php49,995.
Updated Specs
Intel Core i7 / 4GB RAM / NVIDIA GT650M 2GB / 1TB HDD / 15.6â€³ FULL HD Wide Viewing Angle Matte Screen / Windows 8 / Blue-Ray Drive + Backlit Keyboard and Bang & Olufsen Speakers
Thank you so much for the overwhelming feedback towards this unit, we hope to see more as the unit arrives right in time this Christmas Season.

cha

that’s good news..i just hope it’s for real -_-

Louisse

WOOOOOOOw. It would be really much better if it’d be released before the mid of December. IM SO EXCITED!!!!!!wew. With so much better specs. This device will be so much more worth the wait thanks for the UPDATE. Now we know why the delay. <3

ASUS Philippines

Because we don’t want to provide the Core i7-3610QM if there is already the 3630 so we opted to get the latest specs.

Checked the Electroworld in SM Manila, the salesman there was clueless about it. Had no information about the unit or whether they’d have it within the week or not. Never even heard of the model.

cha

what a shame, right shane? :p…..but one of their staff told me that they will inquire about it from Asus Philippines then will inform me na lang if available talaga & price if meron nga…still waiting for that staff’s reply

Calvin is reliable. I’ve seen many of his other good reviews. Asus does have an official Facebook page. And they do comment and reply to many questions about service center, repairs, etc. But I noticed on the page, they’ve never responded to any question about this model.

It’s the Asus Philippines comment on this review that I’m suspicious of. Anyways, at the moment I’m so desperate I don’t even mind buying the model with the original specs mentioned here first.

But since the model is not available in the Philippines. I guess I’ll look for another laptop 🙁

ASUS Philippines

Dear All,

We deeply apologize for the delay of the ASUS N56VZ, its currently in our distributors and they have their internal processing for releasing their products.

Rest assured that the product will be out and we assure you that this is the entity of ASUS Philippines. Since before Me and Calvin of Pinoytechblog are the ones coordinating to answer your inquiries.

AHmm, i’ve done an inspection on the posts of the people in the asus page, and i’ve noticed that they don’t just answer n56vz related posts.

Coz’ there’s this post of someone about n56 20 hrs ago(no response), and there’s a post at 18 hrs ago about another laptop called vivo(and this, with response)

I guess they’re really panicking right now because of the overwhelming reactions, comments, etc. of the people about n56vz. I guess i’ll just wish the God Bless, instead to complain, besides my eyes are on this ASUS N56vz.

I called PC Corner in Park Square, Makati, they said no stock and don’t know if they have stock elsewhere either.

Called PC Corner Gilmore and there’s no one answering the phone.

I have no choice but I’ll buy another laptop as I’m already leaving on Tuesday. As Filipino’s would say, “sayang”… :/

Mr.Bogus

Did went to SM North Cyberzone as of evening yesterday,

checked and asked Asus Concept store regadring asus n56,
they were not advise kelan darating yung unit. But the price is indeed less than P50k dsw.

Also went to Electroworld, wala din sila idea. Baka daw next year. For me its a safe answer from them, ni walang verification or checking. I told them, a very reliable source from a blog, and from asus philippines itself, says it should be in distributing stage. Wala, naka tonganga lang sila, like na shock hehehe

Also went to Gigahertz, buti pa sila may update, baka next thursday darating stocks.

Went to PC Corner Gilmore all the way from Makati since I couldn’t reach them through their phone. They said they HAD stock this morning; only one. And someone bought it just an hour ago apparently! :/

Tenfu

Is N56vz really available? I really really need this laptop before christmas. 🙁

cha

got a reply from electroworld. they inquired about it sa asus but sadly, wala pa raw stock ang asus. how true is this Asus Philippines? i wonder where pc corner gets their stock???

ASUS Philippines

Hi guys,

Finally the long wait is over now. The N56VZ is now available, I personally seen one unit displayed in SM Megamall. They say they have 3 pcs on hand. Please do check other octagon branches as of nowfor availability.

Mr.Bogus

Hi Asus!!!

Thanks for the great news!!!
Slowly but surely.

By the way, I have an important question,
Asus has only 1 year warranty for laptop, specifically asus n56…

Im interested of you have an additional or extended warranty? Do you have 3 or 2 years warranty I can extend?

Where can I avail of it? In your main office?
Where is it located?

How much will I it cost?

Hope you can reply, this is important to me.

Thanks Asus!

ASUS Philippines

Hi Mr.Bogus

Extended warranty offering depends on the dealer if they have that certain service. But if not, you can inquire to our authorized service centers

still wondering why they slashed the backlit part of this laptop. :<
sana noon pa lang nasabi na nila na di na siya backlit. Kase thats the part that made me wait for it this long. Not all laptops at this price range have the backlit keyboard. Now not even this is a part of those that are.

Convince me that its still worth the wait and price.
No offense. 🙂

Eason

Its still worth the money, promise

– Its rare for that price range to have a 15.6″ FULL HD Wide Viewing Angle Display

– I dare any other notebooks to have the same quality of sound against the N56VZ (Philippines Notebook)

– Premium Materials, Aluminum Body, Beautiful Design

– Specs worth for the Price indeed.

Shans Jalnaiz

Is there any way to add the backlit keyword? May mga shop ba na gumagawa nyan for an extra fee?

GangnamStyle

I honestly think, HAVING NO BACKLIT FEATURE is a REAL DEAL BREAKER!

Why? Coz this is suppposedly a PREMIUM ITEM! Its obvious this is a high-end machine tgat they’re selling here, with a high end features, from hi-end IPS display to almost hi-end GT650m to hi-end subwoofer… and guess what they kick out the backlit feature!!!

Isn’t that frustating? Isn’t that insulting?

If thats the excuse for cost-cutting, then they should have remove the subwoofer and instead bring back the backlit.

I dont need the subwoofer, as their built-in sound is very much ok by itself.

I just cant believed it they remove the backlit, what the hell?!

Even for Y580m, they HAVE A BACKLIT feature! you can find a FULL-HD and a GTX 660m in tipidpc for a 50k plus range.

CAN ASUS REALLY CONFIRM THIS, IN PHIL, THEY DONT HAVE A BACKLIT FEATURE???????

cha

even the lenovo y480 has backlit, though no full hd & no blu ray, rest of the specs are the same. plus y480 has gt650 GDDR5 compared to gddr3 of n56vz (already bought the laptop hehe). but i still hope asus can find a solution for this no backlit keyboard..

aldy

@cha
you bought already? wow, that was fast, i would like to know how it is, any heat issues?

cha

just got my y480 & my brother tested some games like bf3. he said it game went smoothly. he played for 2 hours & keyboard(despite of the backlit turned on)& palm rest didn’t get hot. but you will notice that the exhaust is blowing out the hot air from the inside.it also has a feature called fan dust extraction spins the cooling fans in the opposite direction to remove the dust that has accumulated on the fans, and inside the chassis

aldy

thanks for the info Cha, been surfing and found the y580 with the same specs as yours, the y480 i found were of lower specs, wonder why, where did you get yours?

GangnamStyle

IS THERE ANY WAY ANY ASUS SERVICE CENTER CAN FIX THIS OR ADD THIS BACKLIT FEATURE, even if we add the cost? (Wag naman sana sobra mahal)

IF NOT, THEN WEVE BEEN ROBBED BY ASUS!!!

I SAY THE PRICE SHOULD BE MUCH, MUCH LOWER as its almost the same with K55, with no backlit keyboard.

Without it, it looks now an ordinary laptop…

Jasper

pwede bang magpainstall ng backlit?

GangnamStyle

@Jasper

Agree! that will be our last resort for a complete asus n56…

is there a way to be installed by Asus?

Shans Jalnaiz

I’m willing to pay for an added backlit keyboard.

Is it possible?

cha

bought it & it is on its way here lol. bought it online. naisip ko kasi i already have 22in full hd external monitor & i hav no need for a blu ray drive. all i want is the backlit keyboard, slightly better graphics. as for heat issues, di ko pa alam. lahat naman nagiinit kapag ginagamit for long hours.

GangnamStyle

@Cha

you bought it on online? is it international warranty?

How much is it? Does it have backlit?

Is it same specs with pc_corner?

cha

sir i mean i bought the y480 , not n56vz

GangnamStyle

after misleading information…

(if you observe closely, at the 6th photo, one with closeup of the touchpad, it clearly shows the backlit feature. So it means, this was originally and supposedly the model before all the delays)

WE DON’T NEED THESE LATEST UPGRADES, OF BLU-RAY, 1TB, 3630qm, W8, at the expense of BACKLIT FEATURE.

I HOPE YOU CAN EXPLAIN ALL THESE AND JUSTIFY FOR THE PRICE!!!!

so what’s next Asus?

ITS NOT TOO LATE, YOU CAN STILL BRING THE MODEL WITH BACKLIT FEATURE AFTER CHRISTMAS…

and this would be the best xmas gift you can give to us.

zack_falcon

Actually, I like the 1TB hard drive, and the 3630qm. But screw the BluRay, and the Windows 8 moreso, and give us back the backlit feature.

Or at least cut down the price to 45k or lower.

Roman

Hmmm…looking forward to the 700 series NVIDIA graphics. Hope CES will unveil those and ASUS will upgrade the graphics.

or probably it will be a new notebook all the way.

Hernando

Anybody been to Sm North Edsa lately? There is a shop (which I forgot the name) that sells a unit that resembles the N56VZ and almost the same price. But based on the shots I took the model name is A56C

If you look closely, it has the similar specs, appearance and price of 45k. It even has the sonicmaster logo on the upper right hand of the keyboard.

i saw that too, its inferior to the n56vz, release a couple of months back, its under superior mobility, comes in 2 variations, ca-without discreet video and cm-one with.

aldy

tipidpc sells those, the ca and the cm, but in 14 inch screens only, have a feeling asus will not push this product that much, now that the ones with touch screens are out.

GangnamStyle

No word from Asus…

Any idea how we can get or fix the backlit keyboard?

Can any Asus service center remedy this? Any alternative?

Anybody here already bought the non-backlit version?

How is it?

Louisse

Hi @calvin. Can you recommend an affordable laptop that’s good for graphic softwares like autocad that has the looks :D. Hoping for your generous reply. ^^

Louisse

I guess i’ll have to stick with this laptop for its really hard to find a laptop with this discrete graphics, full hd screen, and an upto date 3630qm processor for an architecture student like me.

am i right calvin? or you can recommend other available products here?

@Calvin

Shans Jalnaiz

I think I was the first person from Mindanao to order this wonderful laptop (dumating na yung akin but sadly close pa mga stores due to holiday break). Then earlier today, I saw one unit at Columbia computers (bagong dating lang),at SM Lanang Premier selling for 49k. It’s simply gorgeous! No Backlit but maganda pa rin and powerful specs.

Excited to get my hands on my unit on wednesday 🙂

Jasper

I already got this laptop from octagon, without the backlit keyboard.
The price was at 49k php, it has the same specs listed in this review.
I’m a bit disappointed about this model not having the backlit keyboard.
But overall, the laptop have a cool looking and professional build. Until now, I haven’t notice any issues.

I would like to thank Calvin, Asus philippines and all the users who have been replying in this page. This page serves as my basis for buying this laptop.

Glad you like it Jasper… I’m also a bit bummed with the missing backlit keyboard but it’s really not a deal-breaker for me. The audio just sounds gorgeous on this notebook right?

Jasper

Yeah totally agree, The sounds on this notebook is just beautiful. No regrets in buying this notebook. 😀

makmonc

Some time ago, I read the earlier comments by Asus Philippines here. It was my impression that this unit would be Full HD. WHen its marketing took too long, I went over to Lenovo for their Y580– but it wasn’t Full HD in its local incarnation. Last night, I was already paying for this Asus N56VZ when I recounted my Lenovo experience to the sales guys at Gilmore. They then stopped the sale– they said the local N56VZ isn’t Full HD either. They had no demo unit, no detailed specs on the local display, but said they had already looked into that. It was too late to wait for WIN8 to setup on what I was buying (to re-check), so please– somebody tell me that they had confused the N56VZ’s display with another notebook’s!

Jasper

I’m sure that the unit that I’ve got is Full HD (1920 x 1080) it is even written on the box of the notebook. BTW, I ordered this laptop on Octagon, they actually don’t have any stock when I called but they are willing to order it from their main branch.

makmonc

Yes the shop called me today. They had referred the matter to Asus since quite a few had complained. Seems the display driver should be re-installed. Yes, full HD.

Finally bought one just after Christmas. Went far and wide in search of the lowest price, and I found it. The freebies aren’t much (generic USB mouse and equally generic headset) but they’re still freebies.

PC Corner (Gillmore, Granada St.) sells the Asus N56VZ at Php 47,995 for the 4GB RAM version, and Php 49,995 for the 8GB RAM version. I don’t know where you guys are getting yours, but that’s a far cry from 47,995 for 8GB RAM plus freebies.

Found the best deal at PC Options (also at Gillmore, ironically, just across PC Corner). Php 44,000 for the 4GB RAM version. Php 850 for another Kingston 4GB RAM, which they installed themselves, bringing the total price to Php 44,850. Bought it.

So here’s my opinion:

PROS:

Core i7. This is my first Core i7 anything, so I’m pretty impressed with anything it does. That said, going from 1.15 Ghz when doing nothing to 3.5 Ghz when playing StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is something to write about.

The GeForce GT650M isn’t actually a hardcore gaming graphics card, but for games released two or three years ago, it will do just great, with perhaps only a handful of exceptions. For everything else, it does the job well enough that I don’t complain.

The screen is bright and the speakers are the loudest and clearest I’ve ever heard from an electronic device, including my PC. Great for videos, movies, pictures, and music. And of course, the mini-sub-woofer is an added bonus.

It just looks great. Hard, brushed, plastic(?) black lid. Aluminum top. Durable plastic bottom. If I had any comments, the lid catches fingerprints and spills easier than the top does, and the dotted design might catch some dust over time, but nothing a good weekly cleaning won’t fix.

CONS:

Are there any Windows 8 fans in here? Because Windows 8 is MEGA-CRAP. Batman: Arkham Asylum does not work on Windows 8, and neither does Avast! Anti-Virus (it causes a Blue Screen). The same commands on Windows 7 seem to take two or three more clicks and movements in Windows 8, IN ADDITION to learning how to work the damn thing in the first place. Had there been a Windows 7 version of this laptop, I would’ve bought it even if it would cost more.

I’m very particular about computers, my policy being “Install only what you need.” As always, laptops always come with some pre-installed bloatware stuff, or in this case, some un-needed ASUS crap. Have to be careful in uninstalling some of them, or I might uninstall a needed driver. Look up on the net on what ASUS software to keep and what to ditch.

No back-lit. I was sour about this. Still am. Hopefully, there can be a fix for that. It’s hard to type at night, unless you tilt the screen so that some of light shines on the keyboard.

Shans Jalnaiz

At first, I really disliked Windows 8. But upon reading several guides at the internet, I eventually learned how to use it. Windows 8 is actually easy to use for as long as you read the manual thoroughly. The problem with Windows 8 is that there are numerous shortcut keys that are not present in Windows 7. You need to learn them first in order to like the OS. What I like most about windows 8 is that its very fast (especially during sleep mode or during boot up) and is more energy efficient than Windows 7. Sticking to Windows 8 for now although I also use Windows 7 ultimate in my desktop pc.

You can dual-boot Windows 8 and Windows 7 if you want. You’ll have to change the partition of your harddrive and allocate some to your windows 7 OS.

yup same thing happened to me when i first used win 8.. ang daming steps just to shut down the PC hehehe. i would suggest downloading a Start button app. hehehe.

zack_falcon

After giving it all the open-mindedness and re-learning I could muster up, I still hate it.

Like I said earlier, not only is time and effort needed to learn new tricks *required* to perform efficiently on the system, more time and effort is also needed to re-learn old tricks, some of the same basic functions that used to be a click or two away. Shutting down the computer, for example, has gone from a two step process to a four step one. Want to go into Computer Management? In Windows 7, hit the Start key, and type ‘comp’. Computer Management is bound to pop-up, right under Computer. In Windows 8, doing the same would only show Computer, unless you hit ‘Settings’ or search from settings, yet another step. It’s not that it’s hard. It’s just that Windows 7 is easier.

Usability issues aside, the UI is also pathetic. The Metro crosses the desktop too often. Whereas connecting to a wireless network on Windows 7 means going through a pop-up that, at most, would occupy a small part of the lower right of the screen, Windows 8 simply brings up a bar-like object along the entire right, obscuring any scroll bars on maximized windows. Don’t even get me started on trying to drag Chrome to the left, and accidentally dragging the entire desktop into Metro.

I’d like to dual boot, but at that point the 1TB HDD will be shortened to about 500GB usable, at best (there’s a hidden recovery partition). At the end of the day, as much as I’d like to erase it permanently and install Windows 7, doing so might void my warranty.

You know how it is here.
“You hard drive is broken because you installed another OS on it.”

makmonc

Aww, Win 8 isn’t so bad. Its just that the Asus N56VZ is not touchscreen-enabled. Can’t imagine Win 7 “swipes” on our touchscreen PC.

No, Windows 8 was just a solid concept on paper. Tablet? Phone? Laptop? PC? One OS to rule them all. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that well, especially for the PC.

For instance, Batman: Akrham Asylum doesn’t work on it without major headaches, and a lot of luck.

Avast, for another, causes a Blue Screen every 1 hour, unless the AV Shields are disabled.

I also found out that the Windows Button can’t be used at all times to switch from desktop to metro, as there are some instances when it does nothing (boot-up) or does somethings else (when an app is open).

Anyway, I appreciate the link, thanks, but that just shows how broken the OS for desktops really is. If I have to download and hack to get this thing working the way Windows 7 used to, then it’s like buying a car just to install a new transmission and brakes to get it working like a previous model.

As of now, I’m taking steps to back-up Windows 8 into an image, and then use that image in the event of a “return to store” scenario. I will then install Windows 7.

If any of you are interested, I can post the steps here, as soon as I finalize.

Karl

please post the steps! haha thanks

makmonc

Depends on what you use your PC for, I guess. My touchscreen is a 27″ AIO. Great for technical image download & viewing purposes.

zack_falcon

To each his own, I guess. I use mine for gaming, programming, and server admin stuff. Still, most of the IT professionals I asked echo my opinion. A touch-based OS would simply waste a large monitor’s real-estate potential. Every pixel counts, you know.

makmonc

Ah yes. Every pixel does count in technical imaging. Those high resolution Dell monitors are pricey, but necessary. Where the job consists of ticking checkbox-type descriptors in custom-enabled databases, WIN 8 will be a winner. Maybe monitors will someday be able to do even more, & the medical physicists will be able to draw targets of interest directly onscreen. In my dreams, I’d tick the voice recorder for note entry and go home before dark.

Thanks for your interesting notes.

MAGNUMHEART

Good thing I’ve come across this review, muntik na ko bumili sa PC Corner ng N56VZ, pero knowing that it doesn’t have a backlit keyboard. I was very disappointed. So I decided to find other alternatives.

This is my first attempt to purchase a notebook, and I don’t want any regrets later seeing that technology updates really fast.
So I found a way online, I bought a N56VZ-RH71 model from Amazon which includes Blu-Ray/SuperMulti DVD Combo, i7 3630QM, 8GB RAM, Windows 8, Full HD, and most of all the “backlit” feature most of us are asking for!

I bought the laptop for $1,098.95 (roughly PhP45,664)
and wasted PhP6,264 for the shipping costs to Manila,
for a total of PhP51,928 which I think is not a bad deal at all considering the specs and features.
Fortunately, the N56VZ-RH71 is on sale back then.

For those who are curious, I used a forwarding service called Johnny Air to ship from US to Manila. You can just learn it from blogs and google is your friend.

Hope you find my experience useful…

chaoticboi

I’m thinking of going the same route.. did you had any issues with customs???

MAGNUMHEART

None at all… Johnny Air handles the customs, but you’ll have to pay certain amount for electronics, i.e. $50 for a laptop.
You may check their site for more info.

cha

tax for electronics is more than $50 i believe no matter who the courier is

I’m planning to buy this laptop but I’m not in a hurry. Anyone knows if the backlit keyboard issue will ever be available in PH?

MAGNUMHEART

IMO you’re not in a hurry, i would suggest to buy online from US and forward it using Johnny Air Cargo (5-8 days) or ForexWorld (4-6 weeks)
Same as I did above.
Because N56 models here won’t have backlit keyboard.
The same goes for UK N56 models, according to forum members from UK.

Correction: I was discounted by Johnny Air and the shipment costs P3,599, which brings down the total costs for my N56VZ.
I am really loving this notebook PC. Highly recommended.

Hi Ces. I bought from amazon tas nagpaship ako dito sa pinas specifically cebu using johnny air cargo. It took only 7 days for it to arrive and i payed 4,707.10 php total for the shipping cost. Plus, they now have an online tracking system. Great service!

Louisse

meron sa pc corner by next week @ces

jj

Mine will arrive this friday! ordered through amazon and had it shipped via johnny air as per Magnumheart’s advice. Thanks! So excited!=)

I bought mine from Computer Upgrade King. Excellent service! The price has gone up to $1,425 from $1,191 though.=( But just search “asus n56vz” in amazon.com and you’ll find the same model i have (n56vz-RH71) for only $1,065. Stocks are limited!=)

Bo

I was trying to checkout the item from amazon (seller is Computer Upgrade King or Beach Audio) but to no avail. It says “they cannot ship to the address i specified” (i used my office address). Any suggestion on how i can do it?

MAGNUMHEART

You will need to use a US address from a forwarding service like Johnny Air (plane cargo) or Forex World (sea cargo) to ship from US to Philippines as I posted before. It is never recommended to ship directly to Philippines because the customs tax will surely rip you off. There are many cases where the customs tax costs more than the item’s retail price.
From my experience, Johnny Air takes only 1 week to deliver from their NY address to their main branches at Mega Mall or Makati for pick-up. If you want to have it delivered at your office/home you will be charged more.
Sea cargo from other user’s experience is not reliable compared to Johnny Air but they are far more cheaper than plane cargo rates, but its best to have your laptop be delivered fast and with a reliable shipping company.
My suggestion is read first, analyze and learn about this process of purchasing online and choose a forwarding service that you think is best for you.

Bo

Thank you very much magnumheart! I’ll try Johnny Air Cargo. God bless you!

Hi, will there be an N46 model here in the Philippines? I’m more inclined to buy a 14 inch laptop since I’m not fond of numpads, and the slightly lower specs of the N46 would probably fit my budget. I’ve checked everywhere in the internet and mostly N56 lang talaga yung naaadvertise.

MAGNUMHEART

Sorry buddy. It’s more likely that the N46 model will never arrive here in the Philippines. It took N56 so many months before it came here, and most probably the other models of N56 will never make it here. You may try purchasing N46 from online stores in US, it’s far cheaper than buying laptops here. Just use a forwarding service to deliver it to your Philippine address.

Rj

Hi Magnumheart,

may i ask, do you know where I can contact johnny air, and by your experience how would you rate johnny air by shipping cause i read that you have had experience with them? its because im trying to buy a Asus laptop just like this on amazon. would really appreciate it if you would reply. thanks alot!

MAGNUMHEART

You may contact them directly from the e-mail addresses provided in their site, I suggest you contact Ms. Aura Black, she replies more frequently than the others.

My shipment with JAC took only 6 days from the date of it’s departure from their NY office and arrived in good condition. So, I can say it’s fast and reliable.
It’s a better choice for electronic/gadget shipments.

About computer upgrade king, is the asus under an international warranty for how long and does it still apply when they’ve upgraded the ram?

Bo

I got mine from computer upgrade king last March. Thanks to Johnny Air!

Anyways, PCCorner Gilmore texted me just now that this unit is available in their store. For those who are interested, kindly contact them ASAP. Baka maubusan agad sila ng stock. Here’s their mobile number: 09266751902

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